Drill-head for well-driling apparatus



S. C. GILTHORPE. DRILL HEAD FORAWELL DRILLING APPARATUS. APPLICATION111.50 AP11.21, 1920. RENEwED FEB. 24.1921.

1,391,626, PatentedSept. 20, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

S. C. GILTHORPE.

DRILL HEAD FOR WELL DRILLING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APR.21.1920.RENEwED FEB. 24,1921.

Patenaspt. 20,1921..

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented Sept. 20, 1921.

S. C. GILTHORPE. DRILL HEAD FOR WELL DRILLING APPARATUS. APPLICATION manAPR.21,1920. RENEwED FEB. 24,1921.

m. WC

ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES Pa'rlezNTA OFFICE.

STANLEY C. GILTHORPE, 0F NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRDT0 RICHARD J'. BEQUETTE AND ONE-THIRD TO HUNTER C. LEAXE, BOTH OF NEWORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

DRILL-HEAD FOR I WELL-DRILING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led April 27, 1920, Serial No. 377,039. Renewed February 24,1921. Serial No. 447,555.

T 0 all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, STANLEY C. GIL- 'rHonPE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of New-Orleans, in the parish of Orleans andState of Louisiana, have invented a new and Improved Drill-Head for`VVellDrilling Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

. duction.

The principal object therefore of the present invention is to provide animproved means for efficiently and expeditiously sinking wells toeatly'increase the production and reduce t e labor incident thereto, toa minimum.

An other object of the invention is to provide a well drillingvapparatus which includes means for constantly playing streams of wateron the cutting elements in order to minimize the danger and consequentloss by re which might be generated by sparks due to the contact of saidelements with rock or other solid substances.

A further object of he invention is to provide a drill head whichis`insertible throu h and removable from a well casing for woringassociation therewith, without the necessity of removing the casin Astill further object o the invention is to provide a drill head whichreduces the probability of broken casings to a minimum practicallyresulting in the elimination of costly fishing tools and the extra laborincident to their use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a comparatively simpleand inexpensive apparatus which includes means for effectivelycontrolling the drill head from the ground surface.

With the above recited and other objects in view some of which willappear hereafter as the nature, purpose and o ration of the apparatus ismore clearl un erstood reference 1s made to the fol owing detaiied de-'is positioned at the top scription, claims and accompanying drawingswhich form a part of this application, and in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus positioned in a Well vforworking operation.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the drill headillustrating the same operativel associated with the lower portion of awe l casing.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through a portion of awell casing illustrating the manner of removing or inserting the drillhead therein.

Fig. 4 is an enlargedv detail horizontal sectional view therethrough,taken approximately on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a similar sectional view taken approximately on the line 5--5of Fig. 2.

ig. 6 is a like view taken approximately on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view through one of theside bits or cutters, illustrating the relation of the scraper bladesthereto.

Referring to the drawings in detail, similar characters of referencedenote like parts throughout the several views thereof. In Fig. 1 a wellcasing is provided which consists of a plurality of casing sections 10,said sections being addedas the depth of the well increases. The casingsections are secured together in any well knownmanner and the casing isadapted to be continuously rotated -by the usual turn-table or any othersuitable mechanism of this character which of the well.

In order to adapt e Well casing for use in connection with the improveddrill head provided, the lowermost casing` section is formed with anannular fiange 11 on its inner periphery and a pluralit of radialopenings 12 immediately therea ve. A reamer 13 of substantiallyfrusto-conical formation is provided and is formed with a vertical bore14 having a restricted portion 15 at its lower end, the juncture of saidbores forming a shoulder 15. The enlarged portion of the .bore 14 is ofsubstantially the same diameter as the outer diameter of the well casingsection and the restricted portion 15 of the bore is substantially ofthesame diameter as the inner periphery of the ange 11." The enlargedportion of the bore is prendo@ wlth head 23. A rectangular bo member 18is built up from a p radial recesses 16 which are adapted to aline withthe openings 12 to constltute keeper openings for a purpose to behereafter described. The outer frusto-conical surface of the reamer ispreferably rovided with a pluralit of vertical rows o cutting teeth 17.

A dI l head is provided for detachable association with the lowermostcasing section and the same comprises a permanent member 18 and a rotarymember 19. The ermanent urality of cyllndrical sections including anupper section 20, an intermediate section lower section 22. A head 23 isthreadedly engaged over the upper open extremity of the u permost`section 20 and said head is provi ed with a peripheral flange 24- which1s of substantially the same diameter as the inner diameter 0f the wellcasing. The iange 24 is designedto rest upon the flange 11 of thelowermost casing section, said flange 11 serving as a means for limitingthe passage of the drill head through the lower end o the casing. Thehead 23 is provided with a plurality of radial rectangular bores 24* theinnerportions of which terminate in reduced round bores 25. 4A verticalopenin 26 centrally of the head communicates wit the bores 25, and' ayoke 27 straddles the opening 26 and projects u wardly from the ducedstem-29 at its inner end, is arranged for sliding movement in eachradial bore 24. The inner end of each stem is apertured as at 30 for thereception of the end link of a chain section, 31.- The innermost link ofa hoistin chain 32 is received by the yoke 27 and sald link serves as acommon connection l for the opposite end ofv each chain section 31. nexpansion spring 33 surrounds the stem 29 of each bolt and 1s disposedbetween the shoulderv formed at the juncture of the stem with the boltand the shoulder formed at the juncture of the bores 24 and 25. The

springs 33 normally efect radial projection of the bolts 28 from thehead, through 'the openings 12 in the casing section and into therecesses 16 of the reamer in order to lock the drill head, casing andreamer for simultaneous movements. From this construction it will beseen that when it is desired to remove thel drill head from the wellcasing the initial lift-0n the hoisting chain a2 will exert a pull onthe chain sections 31 to retract thebolts 28 within the bores 24'` ofthe' head and disengage the same from the openin y12 and 16. Furtherupward ul on the chainwill effect engagement ofe lowermost link vwiththeyoke to liftthedrill head .for withdrawing-.fthe same from thecasmg-v e head 23 is vertically apertured for the reception-of a pipesection 34 which passes therethrough and constitutes a. supply manifoldfor the reception of vwater supplied 21, and a t 28, having are? theretof rom the top of the well through the well caslng. The uppermost section20 of the permanent section 18 is providedwith a horizontal wall 35adjacent its lower end and said wall is ape-rtured for the passage of aplurality of water supply pipes 36. The intermediate section' 21 isprovided with spaced horizontal walls 37 and 38 adjacent its lower end,said walls defining a water .reservoir 39 for the reception of watersupplied thereto by the pipes 36 which communicate with said reservoirthrough openings in the wall 37. The space defined between thehorizontal walls 35 and 37 constitutes a motor housing 40 in which issupported by means of brackets 41,` a suitable 'motor 42 of either theelectric or compressed air type.

The supply of lcurrent or air to the motor is and the head 23 resectively, to a source of supply at the top of t e well. The lowermostsection 22 ofthe permanent drill head member 18 is provided with spacedhorizontal walls 44 and 45, the space between the walls 38 and 44providin a fly wheel housing 46. The horizontal wal s 37, 38, 44 and 45are centrall apertured for the reception of the motor rive,- shaft 48which passes therethrough, the said openings being provided with anysuitable packin (not shown) to prevent leakage. A fly w eel 49 ismounted on the drive shaft 48 and operates in thefly wheel housing 46which is provided with a filling openin 50 having a removable plug topermlt of 51e insertion of lubricating o1l thereto. A gear 51 is keyedto the drive shaft and is dis osed within the transmission illustratedin Fig. 2 of the drawmgs. A p urality of verticalstub shafts 52 havingears 53 keyed thereto, are disposed radial y with respect to the maindrive shaft and are extended through the horizontal wall 45. The gears53 of said housing 4 7 as c earl stub shafts respectively meshpwith thegear 51 on the drive shaft. The lower extremities of the stub shaftshave keyed thereto they .pinions 54 which are disposed below the "lowerextremity of the lowermost .section of the member 22 is provided with anumber of inwardly projecting trunnions 60, which are 'adapted to oeratey in the'groove 59 wherebythe rotata le member '19 ofthe drill headis revolubly 'associated with the rmanent section 18. The upper end walle57 ofthe Outer member is apertured for the reception of the drive shaftand a ring gear 61 meshing with the pinions is secured to said upperwall 57, whereby power from the drive shaft is transmitted through thegears 51 53, 54 and 61 to the rotatable lsection 19 o the drill head.-The inner member 55 is provided with a vertical bore 62 through whichthe lower end of the drive shaft extends. A conical pilot bit 63 havingspirally arranged cutting teeth 64 is carried by the free extremit ofthe drive shaft and is disposed centrally of the outer end of the innermember, said pilot bit being detachably associated with the drive shaftto permit of its ready removal or application thereto. The inner memberis provided with a plurality of radially disposed recesses 65 for thereception of the side frusto-conical bits or cutters 66 which aremounted upon the stubshafts 67. The outer surfaces of the side bits orcutters are provided with annular rows of cutting teeth 66E. The stubshafts 67 have their bearing in both the inner and outer members of therotary head as illustrated. The drive shaft is provided with a beveledgear 68 which is keyed thereto and is disposed directly above the u perextremity of the inner member. Radlally disposed stub shafts 69 havingthreaded inner extremities 7 0 extend through apertures 71 in the outermember and are anchored in the threaded sockv ets 72 of the innermember, thereby functioning as an auxiliary means for securing the innerand outer sections 55 and 56 toether. A gear having oppositely beveledaces provided'with beveled gear teeth 73 and 74 is mounted for rotationupon each stub shaft 69, with the teeth 73 thereof meshing with thebeveled ear 68 on the drive shaft. The gearteeth 4 mesh with a beveledpinion 75 on the stub shaft 67 for transmitting rotations to the sidebits orcutters 66.

In order to provide means for playing streams of water on the cutters orbits, to prevent the generation of sparks thereby, a water receivingchamber 76 is provided Iin the inner member 55- and is provided withports 77 communicatingv with the recesses 65. In order to establishcommunication between the water reservoir 39 and the water receivingchamber 76, the drive shaft is provided with a central opening 78 whichextends from the water reservoir 39 to the water receiving chamber 76.The said opening 78 is provided with branch ports 79 at its oppositeends which extend throughl the shaft to its outer periphery to permit ofthe passage of water to and from the same.

The upper portion of the recess in the `outerl member 56 constitutes anoil reservoir 80 which receives its supply of lubricatin oil through anopening 81 in its up rc ose end, said opening being normally c osed bya- 6 removable plug 82. The lubricatingoil feeds by gravity the bearingsof the different gears as will be readily understood from the showing inFig. 2 of the drawing.

In order to provide means for freeing the teeth 66a o f the cutters 66from particles of earth or rock which might adhere thereto, use is madeof scraper blades 83 which are adjustably mounted on the inner member 55at opposite sides of thev recesses 65 by means of set screws 84. Theblades 83 also serve as means for preventing the entrance of particlesof earth or rock into the recesses which might clog orhinder theoperation of the side cutters. Y

In use and operation of the apparatus, the drill head is initiallylocked to the lower casing section by the engagement of the bolts 28 inthe openings and' recesses 12 and 16, and the motor 42 is started. Thepilot bit 63 is driven at motor speed due to the fact that it is keyeddirectly to the motor drive shaft 48. The revoluble member 19 beingdriven at a relatively reduced rate of speed through the gear train. Theside bits while rotating with the revoluble section are each driventhrough their train of gears from the master gear 68 at an increasedrate of speed. The pilot bit initially breaks the ground and the sidebits widen the opening. The well casing which is constantly revolving by.a turntable or other suitable mechamsin at the surface still furtherenlarges the well through the medium of the reamer 13. Should the drillhead fail to operate or should any of its elements become broken, it isreadily removable throughthe casing by the hoisting chain 32 and whenrepaired is as readily replaced by reinserting the same through thecasing. To reassociate the drill head with the lower extremity of thelower casing section, the same is lowered by the hoisting chain untilthe iange 24 contacts with the flange 11.` As the flange 24 of the drillhead contacts with the flange l11 of the casing, the springs 33 willfunction to project the bolts 28 into the openings 12 in the casing andthe radial keeper openings 16 of the reamer.

While there has been shown and described a single and preferredembodiment of the d casing for rotation therewith, and a rotary sectioncarried by the permanent section forindependent' relative rotation.

easing for rotation therewith, a rotary section carriedr by thepermanent section for inde endent relative rotation, means carried by te permanent section for driving the rotar section.

3. n a well drilling apparatus, a drill head comprising a permanentsection adapted to be detachably associated with the well casing, arotary section carried by the permanent section for independent relativerotation, a motor carried by the permanent section, a pilot bitextending from'the rotary section and driven directly by the motor, a

plurality of side bits mounted in the movhavin able section andmechanism for transmitting power from the motor to the sidebits fordriving thev same at a different speed from the pilot bit.-

4. In a well drilling apparatus, the combination with a casing having areamer mounted on its lower end, of a drill head va plurality of drillbits, said drill head eing movable through said casing and adapted to bedetachably associated with the lower end thereof to dispose the drillbits from the lower end thereof.

5. In a well drilling apparatus, the combination with a casing having areamer mounted on its lower end, of a drill head having a plurality ofdrill bits, saidl drill head being movab e through said casing andadapted to be detachably associated with the lower end thereof todispose the drill bits from the lower end thereof, and means fordriving'said drill head from the upper end of the casing.

vbination with a casing having 6. In a well drilling apparatus, the eom\a reamer mounted on its lower end, of a drill head havin a plurality ofdrill bits, said drill head eing movable through said casing and adaptedto be detachably associated with the lower end thereof to dispose thedrill bits from` the lower end thereof, means for driving said drillhead from the upper end of the casing, and means for playing streams ofwater onto the drill bits while in operation.

7. In a well drilling apparatus, the combination with a casing having areamer mounted on its lower end, of a drill head havin a plurality ofdrill bits, said drill head eing movable through said casing and adaptedto be 'detachably associated with the lower end thereof to dispose thedrill bits from the lower end thereof, means for driving said drill headfrom the upper end of the casing, means for playing streams of wateronto the drill bits while in operation, and means for effecting disenagement of the drill head from the casing rom a point at the upper endof the casing.

8. In a well drilling apparatus, a drill head one end, means fordetachably supporting the drill head from the lower end of a well casingwith its cutting elements exposed therefrom, and a reamer adapted toembrace said well casing adjacent the lower end. thereof, the said meansfor supporting the drill head from the well casing also serving as ameans for locking the reamer thereto.

STANLEY C. GILTHORPE.

having cutting elements arranged at

